BAMBOLIM (GOA)
Indian Paddlers showed their supremacy in both Men and Women individual events, sweeping all but one medal, in the Forza International Veteran Cup 2017 Table Tennis championship organised by Goa Table Tennis Association in collaboration with Forza Sports Management and the Sports Authority of Goa, at Dr S.P. Mukherjee stadium, Taleigao.
The championship featured participation from Russia, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka apart from hosts India. Former India International player Sunil Babras exhibited his class in the Men’s 50+ category registering a comfortable 3-0 win while Vikas Mahajan who had lost the Veterans Nationals to R. Rajesh reversed the result by edging out the same opponent 3-2 in an exciting Men’s 40+ match that went the whole distance. Sri Lanka’s Gerald Lucas emerged runner up in Men’s 70+. Meenu Baska (40+), Montu Murmur (50+) and Mangal Saraf (60+) emerged winners in Women’s singles. Goa’s best performance came through its stalwarts Noel Noronha and Ajit Ghantker who put up stiff fight in their respective individual matches. While Noel lost 1-3 to eventual winner Vikas Mahajan in Men’s 40+ pre-quarters, Ajit Ghantker gave a scare to number 2 seeded player Vivek Alavni losing 1-3 in the 50+ category Main Draw.
V.M. Prabhudesai, Executive Director, the Sports Authority of Goa, Goa Table Tennis Association officials Vero Nunes, Vishnu Kolwalkar, Subhash Pandit and Suresh Bhangui, tournament promoter Jayant Kulkarni from Forza Sports Management, Veterans TT Association officials Chaitanya Tarcar and Deepak Gopani were among those who graced the prize distribution occasion.
Following are the results of the finals which concluded on December 6:
40+ Men’s Singles: Vikas Mahajan bt R. Rajesh 3-2 (11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 10-12, 12-10)
50+ Men’s Singles: Sunil Babras bt Kapil Kumar 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-4)
60+ Men’s Singles: Prakash Kelkar bt Jayant Kulkarni 3-2 (11-7, 4-11, 9-11, 11-5, 15-13)
65+ Men’s Singles: Deepak Dudhane bt Satish Kulkarni 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-8)
70+ Men’s Singles: Zakris Khandadia bt Gerald Lucas 3-2 (11-7, 13-11, 7-11, 6-11, 13-11)
40+ Women’s Singles: Meenu Baska bt Sushma Mogre 3-1 (11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 14-12)
50+ Women’s Singles: Montu Murmur bt Suhasini Bakr 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-7)
60+ Women’s Singles: Mangal Saraf bt Rajeshwari Mhatre 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-8)
